News

The TruStone Initiative has published two guidances to help companies in the natural stone sector implement international responsible business conduct in China.

Solar and wind energy companies, industry associations, the Dutch government, knowledge institutions, NGOs and trade unions will jointly commit themselves to making international value chains more sustainable. The parties have made agreements in the field of international responsible business (international RBC) in the new International RBC Agreement for the Renewable Energy Sector, which was signed today. The aim of the agreement is to jointly tackle and prevent risks in the field of human rights violations and environmental damage through cooperation.

Metals wholesaler MCB signed the IRBC Agreement for the Metals Sector. By acceding to the agreement, the company aims to further professionalise the actions it is already taking to reduce its impact on the environment. MCB is the first metals wholesaler to join the agreement, after metal processors and recyclers already joined. This marks the next step in realizing a responsible metal chain.

The IRBC Agreement for the metals sector commences a collective project to address labour rights violations and health and safety risks in the mining industry in Bolivia and Peru. Project leader CNV Internationaal works on this together with Tata Steel Nederland and Wuppermann Staal Nederland. The project has a duration of two years.

The SER will host a side session of the OECD Forum on Due Diligence in the Garment and Footwear Sector on 13 February 2023. In an online session, members of the former Dutch Agreement on Garments and Textiles who are experts on sectoral collaboration, will share their insights on how negotiated sector agreements create an optimal environment for companies to establish and/or strengthen their due diligence systems.

The Open Supply Hub has recently organised a webinar on supply chain transparency in the apparel sector. The participants explored some of the key organisations, elements and initiatives that resulted in an unprecedented level of transparency in the apparel sector and how those can and have been replicated beyond apparel. Fleur Meerman, senior policy advisor at the SER, contributed to share the lessons from the textile sector based on her 5.5 years’ experience with the Dutch Agreement on Sustainable Garments and Textile (AGT). The recording of the webinar is now available.

Trade union freedom and social dialogue are essential to respect the rights of workers in the agri-food sector. Gaining insight into the human rights situation in supply chains starts with asking the right questions. Parties to the international RBC Agreement for the Food Products Sector and Fairtrade have developed a flyer to help companies.

Global Compact Network Netherlands (GCNL) and the SER collaborate to support the ‘Business & Human Rights Accelerator’. Starting in February 2023, this six-month GCNL programme is designed to help companies move from commitment to action on human rights and labour rights. Applications close on 16 December 2022.

Parties to the International RBC Agreement for the Metals Sector look back on a challenging year. International developments such as the war in Ukraine and rising energy prices had a major impact on the sector. The urgency to realise responsible metals value chains is felt by the Parties to the Agreement, as is apparent from the annual report 2021-2022.

Trade union FNV and Cordaid provided a Human Rights Due Diligence training in Uganda, as part of the IRBC Agreement for the Food Products Sector. The training was given to new participants of the Local Expert Network.